Two-time Olympic gold medalist Vasyl “Hi Tech” Lomachenko earned a shot at the WBO featherweight world title regained by Mexico’s Orlando Salido with a 7th round knockout of Orlando Cruz of Puerto Rico.

Lomachenko who scored an impressive 4th round knockout over Mexico’s aggressive Joe Ramirez who had won the WBO International title with a twelve round split decision over the Philippines Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista last April 20.

The Ukraine fighter who was regarded as possibly the best amateur fighter in the world before he was signed up by astute Top Rank promoter Bob Arum who had earlier inked another two-time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming of China carried his sensational 396-1 amateur record into his first pro bout and demonstrated incredible movement, remarkable hand-speed and surprising punching power.

He dropped Ramirez in the opening round with a left hook to the body and then dropped him for the second and last time with another vicious hook to the solar plexus that took the wind out of the game Mexican who was counted out by referee Russel Mora at 2:59 of the fourth round.

Lomachenko looked every bit like the winner of the Val Barker Trophy as the Most Outstanding Boxer at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Arum told the Manila Standard that Lomachenko will face Salido in New York on January 25 for the WBO world title which Salido won handily against Orlando Cruz in a clash for title relinquished by the undefeated Mikey Garcia who takes on Roman “Rocky” Martinez in Corpus Christi, Texas on November 9.

Photo: Vasyl Lomachenko waits in the neutral corner after dropping Jose Luis Ramirez for the count during the bout Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas Saturday night. Photo by Dr Ed de la Vega.